What You Can Expect from the Changes in Google Shopping Policies

Important Update: Changes to Shopping Policies Are Coming Soon

As of February 2016, Google will launch a new and improved Shopping Policy Center, in an effort to make Shopping policies more user-friendly, accessible, and engaging for merchants and users.

What’s This Mean For Merchants?

While most merchants who comply with the current policies put into place will comply with the new policies, it’s certainly beneficial (and advisable) that you spend some time (as soon as possible) getting to know the new policies to see if you need to make any changes on your end.

Getting To Know Google’s Updated Shopping Policies

Google’s policies cover four areas:

Prohibited content (content you can’t promote on the Google Network)

Prohibited practices (what you can’t do if you’d like to advertise on the Google Network)

Restricted content (content that’s okay to advertise, but with limitations)

Editorial and technical (the standards from which all ads and websites should adhere to)

Prohibited Content – What You Should Know

Here is a rundown of prohibited content as of Google’s updated Shopping policies:

Counterfeit goods (containing a trademark or logo that is identical or indistinguishable from another trademark or logo

Dangerous products or services (such as recreational drugs, weapons, fireworks, tobacco products, or instructions on how to make harmful products)

Offensive content (no promotion is allowed for content that will shock, disgust, promote hatred or racism, or that will capitalize at the expense of others)

Prohibited practices

Abuse of the ad network (Google does not allow malicious content, merchants who try to gain an unfair advantage in Shopping campaigns, sites that offer little unique value, and merchants who try to bypass Google’s review processes)

Poor data collection and use (for example, you should not collect the following data over a non-secure connection: username, email (with passwords), credit cards, wire transfer numbers, social security, or driver’s license number)

Misrepresenting yourself or a product (for example, you should make sure to provide all relevant information – and obtaining user consent – before having that user download or purchase something)

That’s A Lot To Take In – What Should You Do Next?

As noted earlier, most merchants follow these policies, as Google hasn’t drastically changed too much. However, not complying with these policies (in addition to all applicable laws and regulations) will cause your ads to be blocked and, if the violations are continued or egregious, Google may prevent you from advertising with them all together.

OperationROI will help you conduct an audit of your current practices and can outline an action plan to ensure you remain compatible throughout these latest updates and changes. Contact us today by calling us at 1-888-277-5429 or by filling out our contact form to learn more.